Development Of Anti-allergic Drugs Research Articles

Carvone Enantiomers Differentially Modulate IgE-Mediated Airway Inflammation in Mice.

Carvone is a monoterpene found in nature in the form of enantiomers (S- and R-). While previous research has demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects of carvone, the influence of carvone enantiomeric composition on its anti-allergic activity remains to be investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-allergic activity of carvone enantiomers in a murine model of airway allergic inflammation induced by sensitization and challenge with ovalbumin (OVA). The oral treatment with R-carvone or S-carvone 1 h before each challenge inhibited the number of leukocytes and eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). R-carvone inhibited leukocyte infiltration and mucus production in the lung, which was correlated with decreased production of OVA-specific IgE in the serum and increased concentrations of IL-10 in the BAL. On the other hand, the administration of S-carvone had little inhibitory effect on inflammatory infiltration and mucus production in the lung, which might be associated with increased production of IFN-γ in the BAL. When administered 1 h before each sensitization, both enantiomers inhibited eosinophil recruitment to the BAL but failed in decreasing the titers of IgE in the serum of allergic mice. Our data indicate that carvone enantiomers differentially modulated IgE-mediated airway inflammation in mice. In conclusion, unlike S-carvone, R-carvone has the potential to be used in anti-allergic drug development.

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry Based Label-Free Quantification Method for Assessment of Allergen-Induced Anaphylactoid Reactions.

Mast cells are essential in mediating inflammatory processes. When activated, mast cells can rapidly release characteristic granules and various mediators into the interstitium. Tryptase (TPS) and β-hexosaminidase (HEXB) are typical protease mediators stored in granules and released upon activation. They have been recognized as important biomarkers of anaphylaxis, and the released level is associated with the severity of allergic reactions. In this study, a sensitive, accurate, and selective liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for simultaneously quantifying the two biomarkers was developed and validated in LAD2 cell culture supernatant, and P14R was used as internal standard. Good linearity was observed in the range of 50-2500 ng/mL for TPS and 10-2000 ng/mL for HEXB both with R2 > 0.99. The matrix effect and recovery were both within acceptable limits. We quantified TPS and HEXB released from Laboratory of Allergic Disease 2 (LAD2) mast cells treated with several potential allergens, and the results demonstrate that the method can be used to investigate TPS and HEXB levels in LAD2 mast cell model during allergy research. We anticipate our approach to be a robust and sensitive assessment method for more biomarkers with similar kinetics characteristics and to be a major tool of allergic drug assessment or antiallergic drug development in research.

A new, rapid in vivo method to evaluate allergic responses through distinctive distribution of a fluorescent-labeled immune complex: Potential to investigate anti-allergic effects of compounds administered either systemically or topically to the skin

We herein established a new method to evaluate allergic responses in mice rapidly and easily with ethical improvement by reducing the number of animals used. A single intravenous injection of a mixture of anti-OVA monoclonal IgE and fluorescein-ovalbumin (FITC-OVA) induced the distinctive spotted distribution of FITC-OVA in skin, named “ASDIS (Anaphylaxis-dependent Spotted Distribution of a fluorescent-labeled Immune complex in Skin)”, and this was easily detected by in vivo imaging. The parallel induction of hypothermia, scratching, serum histamine increases, and ASDIS as well as the inhibition of ASDIS by either the systemic administration of a histamine H1 receptor antagonist or mast cell-depleting antibody suggested that our method, which only required 15min, induced these allergic responses including ASDIS. Relatively mild but significant ASDIS was induced also in mice with passive systemic anaphylaxis by the method, requiring 2 separate days. The painting of anti-histamines on the skin markedly reduced ASDIS in the painted area only, suggesting the potential of this model to simultaneously compare the anti-allergic effects of several candidate compounds with control drugs in the same mice. ASDIS was suggested to originate from extravasated FITC-OVA/OE-1 immune complexes from blood to skin tissues other than mast cells. Our new method has the advantages of rapidity, easy method, and lower animal numbers to evaluate anti-allergic compounds as well as the characteristics of the used antibody, antigen, labeling molecules, additives, and other formulations. Our model for inducing ASDIS may contribute to the development of anti-allergic drugs, especially those intended for application to the skin.

Anti-allergic properties of curine, a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid.

Curine is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Chondrodendron platyphyllum (Menispermaceae). Recent findings have shed light on the actions of curine in different models of allergy and inflammation. Here we review the properties and mechanisms of action of curine focusing on its anti-allergic effects. Curine pre-treatment significantly inhibited the scratching behavior, paw edema and systemic anaphylaxis induced by either ovalbumin (OVA) in sensitized animals or compound 48/80, through mechanisms of mast cell stabilization and inhibition of mast cell activation to generate lipid mediators. In addition, oral administration of curine significantly inhibited eosinophil recruitment and activation, as well as, OVA-induced airway hyper-responsiveness in a mouse model of asthma, through inhibition of the production of IL-13 and eotaxin, and of Ca2+ influx. In conclusion, curine exhibit anti-allergic effects in models of lung, skin and systemic allergy in the absence of significant toxicity, and as such has the potential for anti-allergic drug development.

δ-Lactam derivative from thermophilic soil fungus exhibits in vitro anti-allergic activity

From cultures of thermophilic soil fungus Humicola grisea var thermoidea, a δ-lactam derivative (3-(2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-5,6-dihydropyridin-2(1H)-one) that displayed anti-allergic activity was isolated, which was predicted by in silico computational chemistry approaches. The in vitro anti-allergic activity was investigated by β-hexosaminidase release assay in rat basophilic leukaemia RBL-2H3 cells. The δ-lactam derivative exhibited similar anti-allergic activity (IC50 = 18.7 ± 6.7 µM) in comparison with ketotifen fumarate (IC50 = 15.0 ± 1.3 µM) and stronger anti-allergic activity than azelastine (IC50 = 32.0 µM). Also, the MTT cytotoxicity assay with RBL-2H3 cells showed that δ-lactam does not display cytotoxicity at concentrations lower than 50 µM. This study suggests that the δ-lactam derivative has the potential to be used as a lead compound in the development of anti-allergic drugs for clinical use in humans.

Study of the Effect of Metal Ion on the Specific Interaction between Protein and Aptamer by Atomic Force Microscopy

We have studied the effect of metal ions on the specific interaction between a protein, immunoglobulin E (IgE), and its 37-nt DNA aptamer with atomic force microscopy (AFM). Protein aptamers are a new class of synthetic single-stranded DNA/RNA oligonucleotide generated from in vitro selection to selectively bind with target proteins. The IgE aptamers have been developed and are expected to be promising reagents in IgE detection and new anti-allergic drug development. It is known that the presence of metal ions in the buffer usually has a strong effect on the affinity of single-stranded DNA for protein. In this work, the effect of two representative monovalent ion and divalent ion on the binding of IgE and the aptamer has been studied at the single-molecule level. The results from the AFM force measurements show that the metal ions not only reduce the single-molecular rupture force but also reduce the number of bonds formed between IgE and the aptamer.

SOCS-3 regulates onset and maintenance of T(H)2-mediated allergic responses.

Members of the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family are involved in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases. SOCS-3 is predominantly expressed in T-helper type 2 (T(H)2) cells, but its role in T(H)2-related allergic diseases remains to be investigated. In this study we provide a strong correlation between SOCS-3 expression and the pathology of asthma and atopic dermatitis, as well as serum IgE levels in allergic human patients. SOCS-3 transgenic mice showed increased T(H)2 responses and multiple pathological features characteristic of asthma in an airway hypersensitivity model system. In contrast, dominant-negative mutant SOCS-3 transgenic mice, as well as mice with a heterozygous deletion of Socs3, had decreased T(H)2 development. These data indicate that SOCS-3 has an important role in regulating the onset and maintenance of T(H)2-mediated allergic immune disease, and suggest that SOCS-3 may be a new therapeutic target for the development of antiallergic drugs.

Status and prospects of development of antiallergic drugs

Status and prospects of development of antiallergic drugs

S IV-4 - Clinical aspects of tne development of anti-allergic drugs.

S IV-4 - Clinical aspects of tne development of anti-allergic drugs.